Antiseptic cap

Abstract

A syringe assembly including: (1) a syringe barrel defining a chamber; (2) a plunger mounted in the chamber and moveable with respect to the barrel; and (3) a cap holder assembly containing a cap and an absorbent material removably attached to the syringe.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An antiseptic cap assembly for use with an access site, the antiseptic cap assembly comprising:
 a cap holder assembly comprising:
 a cap comprising:
 a generally cylindrical cap side wall, and 
 an absorbent material within the cap having an antiseptic substance prior to contacting a distal surface of an access site; 
 a housing comprising: 
 a housing outer wall at least partially defining a housing chamber, the housing chamber being configured to receive the cap, and 
 a housing end wall; and 
 
 a foil seal being removably attached to the housing outer wall to maintain the cap in an antiseptic state within the housing prior to use; and 
 
 a cap connector comprising:
 a distal end portion being configured to removably engage the housing end wall of the cap holder assembly; and 
 
 a proximal end portion comprising a projection or a recess and configured to attach to at least a portion of a medical article, the proximal end portion being configured to attach to the portion of the medical article while the distal end portion is removably engaged to the cap holder assembly. 
 
     
     
       2. The antiseptic cap of  claim 1 , wherein the medical article comprises a syringe having a plunger, and wherein the cap connector is configured to attach to an access point of the syringe. 
     
     
       3. The antiseptic cap of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises one or more attaching members configured to attach the housing to the medical article. 
     
     
       4. The antiseptic cap of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more attaching members comprise a locking protrusion being configured to removably engage a locking chamber of the cap connector. 
     
     
       5. The antiseptic cap of  claim 4 , wherein the locking protrusion comprises a locking flange being configured to engage the locking chamber to inhibit disengagement of the housing from the cap connector when the locking flange is inserted into the locking chamber and rotated relative to the cap connector. 
     
     
       6. The antiseptic cap of  claim 5 , wherein the cap connector further comprises a cut out being configured to receive the locking flange as the locking protrusion is inserted into the locking chamber. 
     
     
       7. The antiseptic cap of  claim 1 , wherein the cap further comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced cap ribs on a cap external surface, and wherein the plurality of circumferentially spaced cap ribs extending radially outwardly from and axially along the generally cylindrical cap side wall. 
     
     
       8. The antiseptic cap of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of circumferentially spaced cap ribs are proximate to a cap open end and extend towards a cap closed end, and wherein each of the plurality of circumferentially spaced cap ribs have a bottom surface on the generally cylindrical cap side wall and a ridge wall that extends away from the generally cylindrical cap side wall to form an elongated protrusion. 
     
     
       9. The antiseptic cap assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of circumferentially spaced cap ribs extend from a cap closed end. 
     
     
       10. The antiseptic cap assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of circumferentially spaced cap ribs extend to a cap flange. 
     
     
       11. The antiseptic cap of  claim 7 , wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced housing ribs on a housing inner surface of the housing chamber, and wherein the plurality of circumferentially spaced housing ribs are configured to engage the plurality of circumferentially spaced cap ribs. 
     
     
       12. The antiseptic cap of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of circumferentially spaced housing ribs extend from a housing chamber closed end. 
     
     
       13. The antiseptic cap of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a housing flange extending radially outwardly from the housing outer wall. 
     
     
       14. The antiseptic cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material is positioned within the cap chamber against a cap closed end. 
     
     
       15. The antiseptic cap assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the antiseptic substance comprises a liquid, and wherein the liquid is releasably retained within the absorbent material. 
     
     
       16. The antiseptic cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the antiseptic substance comprises a coating on at least a portion of the generally cylindrical cap side wall. 
     
     
       17. The antiseptic cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cap further comprises a set of threads on a cap inner surface. 
     
     
       18. The antiseptic cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a cap flange is proximate to a cap open end.